I don’t really know exactly how I’m to get him out, but the first and best move should be to, well, dig. Knocking as hard as I possibly could, which wasn’t really that hard since I wasn’t exactly buff, I attempted to grab Clay’s attention again. He didn’t seem to notice, so I gave a little yelp, which sounded like the squeaking sound a chewing toy makes. Am I a joke?

Whatever I was, this seemed to grab Clay’s attention, as he stopped alternating between looking solemnly at the stalactite and where it previously was. His eyes although dark and blank, seemed to contain boundless sorrows, and it took me a second to recollect my enthusiasm.

Hey! Clay! Don’t look so sad, we’re gonna escape!

Having gotten his attention, I quickly hopped down off of his back and ran to the nearest wall.

Looking back at Clay, I noticed how, in the dim light of my lure, Clay looked really, really spooky. Startled, I jumped a little, but after seeing the little gleam in his eyes, I quickly regained my composure and pointed to the wall boldly.

Look! I’m going to chew us a hole to escape through! If you just follow me, we can leave this dreary place!

Clay looked at me blankly.

Well, just, uh, follow my lead and we’ll be a-okay!

With efficiency surprising even myself, I quickly and easily chewed a hole into the wall, big enough for even Clay to fit through!

It didn’t have much depth, but it was a good start.

Come on Clay, I won’t bite, I promise!

I waved in that “come here” motion that you see everywhere, hoping Clay would understand.

Nervously, I think, Clay moved closer. Whether this was because he understood my wave or because he was curious, I don’t know.

Whichever it was, soon enough, Clay was stationed right outside the hole, mostly unwilling to enter.

Well, it isn’t that deep, so that might be for the better.

Turning back to the hole, I resumed my drilling/eating/digging, making sure to angle the hole a little bit upwards to get us, well, up.

After the hole got quite long, I went back to the opening, and tried once more to convince Clay to enter. He didn’t seem too willing, but after I beat my tail on the floor a little her reluctantly entered.

Most likely, the size must have made him feel quite crowded, since he must have been used to the much roomier cavity we were escaping. But I persisted in his coming, and so, he came along.

I continued drilling at a steady pace, every now and again hearing that voice saying I gained a “Size”, and eventually, after drilling for twenty minutes or so…

I could feel the rock growing softer, more tender. The floor was wet and a little trickle of water flooded down, which didn’t really alert me since I liked water.

It really should have alerted me though, because within only a couple of minutes, the rock I bit into crumbled away, I got a mouthful of sand, and water burst into our tunnel like a horse out of the gate. I was instantly swept away from under my feet by the water, a sudden and unwilling captive of the stream.

I felt so helpless, a ragdoll in the hands of a child, unable to do anything to stop my descent into the dark, dark waters.

I failed my limbs and tail in a fruitless attempt to regain control, but it was for nought.

Or so I thought, until a powerful pincer grabbed a hold of me, forcefully yet gently thrusting me out of my descent. For a second, I was absolutely terrified. Something was here with me in these depths, and it was not ambivalent.

That is, until I realized that although the pincer should have been strong enough to crush me, it didn’t. It held me gently, carefully, doing it’s best not to harm me in any way, yet keep me from being stolen by the tide.

I grabbed on to the claw, allowing myself to be rescued with muddy comfort, glad to be rescued yet terrified due to, well, everything else.

It was, of course, Clay. Somehow, he had the strength to hold on against the stream, strong and stoic, like a mountain incarnate.

And when I didn’t think there was anything Clay could do that could make him any manlier than he already was, he took a step. And another. And another.

The hole to freedom, burst open like a sudden spout of grief, was right in front of us, tantalizing and near.

I felt like I would be swept away, despite Clay’s powerful grasp on my midsection. And yet, he walked, like a thundering god.

Clay could barely squeeze through, his stalagmite being just barely too big for the hole. But when I thought that this was the end, it cracked off, and fell with a heavy thud you could hear even underwater.

Taking the chance, Clay and I burst through the hole and into the sweet, calm waters of freedom. He had braved the waters, and won.

Clay carefully and slowly released me from his grip, probably expecting me to take flight the moment he did. But I didn’t. My heart in my throat, I lunged at the large crayfish, who in turn flinched at the sudden movement, but before he could escape of fight back, I had stapled myself to his side, hugging closely.

Hahahaha, you can’t stop me, for I have Endurance +6!!

Clay resigned any fear and hostility, allowing himself to be hugged.

A content smile on my face, I promptly fell asleep, having had a day full of wonders.